After surviving an assault, you may have questions or concerns about your emotions, thoughts, changes in behavior, etc. There is NO right/wrong way to feel after experiencing an assault or traumatic event.
Some common responses are: changes in sleep patterns, nightmares, uncharacteristic confusion/disorganization, difficulties trusting people, changed relationships, increased alcohol or drug use, weight loss/gain, extreme anger, etc. You might be experiencing any, episodes of fear or nervousness, episodes of crying, unusual tiredness, all, or none of the above.
You might be questioning your own behavior (Why did/didn’t I do that? I should’ve done this differently…) Many people blame themselves for what happened.
It is important to remember that whatever you did kept you alive. You did nothing to deserve this. Nobody deserves to be sexually assaulted.
Sexual assault is a crime that was committed by the perpetrator. Sexual assault is not about sex, it is about power and control. It is not about sex, it is violence.
The New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell (NYP) Victim Intervention Program provides a safe space to sort out your feelings and reactions to the incident with the expertise of trained staff who fully support you.
The New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell (NYP) Victim Intervention Program offers individual, short- term, crisis counseling and trauma-focused psychotherapy, and group therapy is also offered periodically each year. Services offered are multi-lingual through NYP approved interpreters connected via telephone.
The NYP Victim Intervention Program has extensive relationships with other service providers and professionals in New York City. Referrals can be provided for additional services, including medical and psychiatric care, legal assistance, shelter assistance, etc.
Victim Intervention Program services are open to anyone ages 12 and older (including friends & family), and are completely free and confidential.
To schedule an appointment, please call 212-746- 9414 (M-F, 9-5).
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP) Emergency Room
Entrance on 68th Street and York Avenue
Call 911 for immediate safety and protection
NYP Victim Intervention Program: 212-746- 9414 (M-F, 9-5)
Safe Horizon-24/7- Sexual Assault Victims’ Hotline- 212-227- 3000
Safe Horizon-24/7- Domestic Violence Victims’ Hotline- 800-621- HOPE (4673)
National Sexual Assault Hotline- 1-800- 656-HOPE (4673)
When someone you care about has been sexually assaulted, it affects you too.
You may be feeling angry, confused, frightened, guilty, helpless, etc. You might have questions or concerns about your emotions, thoughts, or changes in behavior. You might be unsure how to best be helpful to the survivor. These responses are common for survivors of sexual assault, but also for their families, partners, and friends.
It is important to remember that no one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Just as the survivor is not to blame, this is not your fault either.
The Victim Intervention Program services are available to survivors as well as their family and friends. Services are completely free and confidential, and available to anyone ages 12 and older.
Please call 212-746- 9414 (M-F, 9-5).